If you're looking for the most effective way to support nonprofits, especially those just getting started, monthly giving is a game-changer. It's not just about convenience; it's about creating sustained, meaningful impact for organizations working hard to grow with limited resources.
Why Monthly Giving Matters for Nonprofits
Monthly donations provide predictable income, allowing nonprofits to plan ahead, budget wisely, and invest in programs that create real change. For early-stage nonprofits, that kind of stability can be transformational. Many of these organizations are led by passionate founders doing the work themselves, often without dedicated fundraising staff. They’re juggling service delivery, operations, and growth, so every dollar that doesn’t have to be spent on fundraising counts.
That’s where monthly donors come in.
The need for bold, innovative solutions has never been greater. We’re constantly inspired by the nonprofit leaders we support—big thinkers tackling big challenges in education, healthcare, social justice, and more.
Our programs give early-stage nonprofits the funding, mentorship, and expert connections they need to grow. While pitch competitions and matching gifts make a splash, alumni gain significant strategic support from the incubator and alumni programs.
Heroic Gardens is a nonprofit that provides free gardening services to U.S. veterans in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs of Pennsylvania, Northern Delaware and South Jersey. It also operates a virtual program in 24 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Founder Collie Turner shares her story behind its creation and the lessons learned along the way.
The seeds for Heroic Gardens were planted many years ago, somewhat unexpectedly. While caring for her grandmother, Collie discovered that her grandfather’s military death benefits had never been claimed. After a frustrating three-year journey of navigating the VA system, she met a local veteran who took time out of her regular role helping veterans secure housing, to help get her grandmother’s application reviewed and approved. This woman’s kindness sparked a question in Collie’s mind: How can I give back?
In her role as the Director of Social Impact & Sustainability at UF’s Warrington College of Business, Dr. Kristin Joys has connected us with MANY of Greater Sum’s most cherished interns. When we gathered to discuss internships earlier this summer, she shared some tips for successful, meaningful experiences with interns. Dr. Joys has given permission for us to share them more broadly here.
The West Virginia Alternative Wastewater Treatment Coalition (AWTC) is one of the grantees from The Greater Sum’s 2018 cohort.
Blog contributor Mindy Ong caught up with Professor Katherine Garvey, co-founder of the AWTC and Director of the Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic at the West Virginia University College of Law, to understand what motivated her to start the AWTC, and what’s next in store for the Coalition.
If you’re reading this article, it’s a safe bet that you’ve been planning or doing good work in your community and you’re trying to figure out the best way to organize or formalize that work. Starting a nonprofit is a big commitment. If government forms are not your jam you may be open to other avenues.
Have you ever stumbled into the most perfect conversation, with someone who’s figured out the very puzzle that has you stumped? Our recent workshop at the Center for Art in Medicine at the University of Florida felt like that. We brought together arts and public health folks from the Greater Sum network to learn about what’s called the Fifth Wave of Public Health — the focus on culture’s role in health.
Key takeaways from the visit include:
Health communications are more effective when they are targeted and feature narratives.
Art is a powerful means of communication, and can be harnessed to cultivate empathy and facilitate understanding of important health messages.
The impact of the arts in healthcare is well established in the US. Many organizations are also using the arts to achieve public health outcomes, but there’s less organized study of those outcomes and methods.
Center Director Jill Sonke and her team have been convening practitioners in both the arts and public health for a series of planning sessions across the country. Now they’re hosting a conference to connect people working at the intersect of art, public health, and community development. Learn more here. Join their Facebook community here.
